Pipe thimble or insulator.



' No. 693,254. Patented Feb.' u, |902."v

\ w. Bi cHoATE. PIPE THIMBLE 0B INSULATOR.

(Application led. May 14, 1900.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES lhrrENTV OFFICE.

WILLIAMYBIOHOATE, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS.

PIPE THYIMBLE OR INSULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,234, dated February 11, 1902.

Application led May 14, 1900.

State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe Thimbles or Insulators; and I do'hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the ac companying drawings, in which- Figure l is a sectional view of the outer sleeve of my thimble or insulator. Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of the inner sleeve thereof. Fig. 3 is an elevation of my thimble, having its sleeves in operative relation; and Fig. 4 is a sectional viewtake'n on the line :c of Fig. 3.

The object of my invention is to provide a thimble or insulator for protecting floors or partitions from injury by the heat of steam, water, hot-air, and other heated pipes which pass therethrough, such insulator having the qualities of providingan air-space between such pipe and the iioor or partition through which it passes, said air-space permitting free passage of air therethrough and preventing contact between the hot pipe and the floor or partition, of being readily adjusted to the thickness of such oor or partition, and of having its parts so iirmly fastened together that they shall not be displaced accidentally or by the jarring of the pipe or building; and to such end my invention consists in the thimble or insulator for steam, water, hot-air, and other heated pipes, substantially as hereinafter specified.

In carrying my invention into practice I provide inner and outer sleeves A and B, respec` tively. The inner sleeve A consists of a body C, formed of asheet bent into cylindrical form and having its meeting edges united in the usual manner, an inturned lip D being formed on one end of such body, and an annular iiange E larger in diameter than the body, said angeE being attached to the body by having its inner edge turned over such lip D. A spring-lug F projects through a slot G, eX- tendinglongitudinally in the side of the body C, such lug 4beingpreferably formed by doubling upon itself the end ofa wire H, whose opposite end is attached to the body by being passed through two openings I and I in theV Serial No. 16.641. (No model.)

material thereof. The spring of the wire H tends to hold the lug at the end of the slot nearest to the iiange E, the lug thus being capable of yielding in a direction away from such flange.

The outer sleeve B consists of a cylindrical body K, having a flange L attached thereto in av manner similar to that used in connecting the ange E to the inner sleeve. The body K preferably consists of a sheet M, having spiral ribs N and N formed on the inner surface thereof, such ribs being conveniently formed by crimping the material of such sheet. The edges `opposite the sheet M are conveniently connected by a strip O, having its edges bent inward and interlocked with the outturned edges of the sheet M. The spiral ribs are interrupted along the strip O, so that each rib passes but part way around the body B, and a free passage is formed .across such ribs and along such strip. The

ends of the spiral ribs are preferably not in line with eachother, but are staggered, so that each end on'one side of the free passage is substantially opposite the middle of the space between the nearest ends of such ribs on the opposite side of such space. The ribs thus form parts of two separate spirals, which are separated by half a pitch. Such ribs might be made to form parts of three or more spirals.

In the operation of my device the outer sleeve is passed into the opening through the lioor or partition until its iiange abuts the adjacent surface thereof. Theinner sleeve isinserted from the opposite side of such ioor or l.partition until its Iiange abuts .thereagainst The i spring -lug F traverses the passage through the ribs N and N until it is arrested by contact of the flange Ewith the wall or partition. One of the sleeves is then turned, while the other is held stationary, the turning being in such direction that the spring-lug F will engage a rib N and draw the flanges lrmly` against the opposite faces of the licor or partition, and the motion is continued until the lug has been'made to .yield to some extent. In case the lug should slip off the end of the rib it has engaged it will, owing to the staggering of the rib ends, be caught by theopposite end of the next higher rib and cause the flanges to be drawn closer together until it has engaged a rib beyond which it cannot pass. The tension of the lug against the rib will prevent. any accidental unfastening of the sleeves such as might otherwise be caused by the jarring pf the house or of the pipe, The engagement of the sleeves of my thimble is thus effected by a simple thrust ofthe sleeves toward each other and a partial relative rotation, Whereas with a continuous spiral rib it would be necessary to cause the lug to follow the entire course of the spiral until the flanges had reached their proper positions. The ribs separate the inner and outer sleeves, thus preventing contact of the hot pipe with the door or partition and forming an insulating air-space. The interruption of the ribs provides a clear space for the direct passage of the air through the thiinble.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. A thilnble for pipes consisting of an inner and au outer flanged sleeve, one of such sleeves having interrupted spiral ribs, and the other of such sleeves having a yielding lug that is adapted to engage with said ribs, substantially as and for the purpose described. i

2. A thimble for pipes, consisting of an inner and an outer flanged sleeve, one of such sleeves having interrupted spiral ribs forming parts of a plurality of spirals, and the other of such sleeves having a lug that is adapted to engage such ribs, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A thimble for pipes, consisting of an inner and an outer flanged sleeve, one of such sleeves having interrupted spiral ribs forming parts of a plurality of spirals, such interruptions being in line With each other, and the other of such sleeves having alug that is adapted to engage such ribs, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. A thiinble for pipes, consisting of an inner and outer lan ged sleeve, one of such sleeves having interrupted spiral ribs forming parts of a plurality of spirals, and the other of said sleeves having a spring-lug that is adapted to engage such ribs, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A thimble for pipes, consisting of an inner and an outer iianged sleeve, one of such sleeves having interrupted spiral ribs forming parts of a plurality of spirals, such interruptions being in line with each other, and the other of such sleeves having aspriug-lug that is adapted to engage said ribs, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of May, 1900.

IVILLIAM B. CIIOATE.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. KENDALL, II. O. KREAMER. 

